Man wanted for smuggling sea food

(48) of 164 Nancefield, Musina in South Africa and employed by Chabata Transport as a truck driver, is accused of smuggling 500 packets of Abalone shell fish into the country from South Africa.
He was expected to stand trial before Beitbridge resident magistrate Miss Gloria Takundwa on May 18, but failed to show up.
He had been remanded to the trial date on US$100 bail.
The accused was ordered to reside at his given address until the matter was finalised and not to interfere with State witnesses as part of his bail conditions.
The consignment of Abalone shell fish was being imported by Sitric Marketing of Harare. The trade of Abalone shell fish, which is regarded as endangered species is prohibited in the country.
Abalone shell fish is a unique type of snail classified under the gastropod phylum-mollusca and is often referred to as the sea ear because of its flattened shape.
This type of sea food is considered a delicacy in Asia and police believe the consignment was enroute to the Far East.
Allegations are that sometime last month Sitric Marketing, a company which is based in the capital, bought charcoal and Abalone from South Africa.
The company then forged invoices indicating that they were importing a consignment of charcoal only.
On May 1, Ndou arrived in the country through Beitbridge Border Post driving a South African registered truck.
He then made a false declaration to the customs authority indicating that he was carrying charcoal. 
He went through all the immigration and customs formalities and went to the commercial trucks release section.
He was intercepted by police detectives from the Border Control and Minerals Unit who were acting on a tip off.
The detectives requested that his truck be taken for further physical examinations at the Zimra container depot. 
A search of the truck led to the discovery of 500 packets of Abalone shell fish which had been concealed inside the charcoal consignment.
Nine hundred and seventy three packets of charcoal were also recovered from the truck. The Abalone shell fish worth US$3,9 million and the truck were in turn seized by Zimra.
The suspect was subsequently arrested.
The incident barely comes three months after another South African truck was intercepted while carrying a similar consignment worth R18 million.
Two people were also arrested in connection with the matter.